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It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.

Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Distort tool - EnRoute 5

For Dustin's name tag I decided on an old western theme. He owns and operates a theme park with a railroad theme. I types in the lettering, enlarging the 'D' and 'N'. But it didn't flow. I'd fix that in a hurry with the new distort tool in EnRoute 5.

I tackled the center letters first. I selected all three letters and then opened the distort tool. It is as simple as dragging the nodes downwards. The letter vectors don't move with the grid until you hit apply.

I liked the look of the center section but after adding a top and bottom bar to the mix I decided the end letters also needed to drop down on the outside corners.

I did the 'D' first, then the 'N' on the other side.

I created the rest of the vectors I needed to create the plaque in EnRoute using the drawing tools. The center sausage shaped vector would be used to distort the relief later.

I created a flat relief in the shape of the plaque, then created a raised border around the inside by modifying the relief.

A wood grain bitmap was applied to the inside portions of the plaque.

Then as a separate relief I created the letter border.

The stars were also created as separate reliefs. These would be floated into position and merged highest in a bit.

Now i was time to create a special effect by making the letter outline barrel up through the center. I selected the letter outline and that usage shaped vector I mentioned earlier. This vector would be used to modify the lettering outline to the shape I desired. The stars were also selected in this screen shot but I later decided to lave them flat.

I checked the front view to make sure everything was at the right height before merging highest all of the elements.

The bands above and below the lettering as next created as flat reliefs, aded to the existing background relief.

Last up was the lettering created as a beveled relief.

The file was now ready for tool pathing, But I had removed the boots from the collets for a thorough cleaning and forgot to calibrate then before starting to route. The result was some 3/8" tool marks in the top of the letters done during the rough pass. I decided it looked good. I would leave it and perhaps use this trick down the road. The border edge of the plaque also had roughing pass tool marks. I used my die grinder to take them off in an instant. I purposely left die grinder tool marks, making the edges look like they had been carved with an adz or chisel.

It should paint up pretty cool. I'll be posting more pics as that process proceeds. Stay tuned...

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Dan Sawatzky is best described as a creative force in the sign industry. He and his wife Janis are owners of Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation – a small family company that specializes in the design and creation of dimensional theme signs and environments. They tackle projects of any size from small signs to entire theme parks. Their work has garnered numerous international awards and Dan’s articles appear frequently in the sign trade publications. Dan and his crew also host Sign Magic and Sculpting Workshops in their studio a number of times each year with attendees coming from around the world.
For more information please visit
www.imaginationcorporation.com